And what concessions might he want from the EU?

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Cranes at the Port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, February 2025. Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA
Cranes at the Port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, February 2025. Photograph: Caroline Brehman/EPA

A fortnight into Donald Trump’s second presidency and it’s clear tariffs are a core part of the agenda for his second stint in the White House.

This week, Mr Trump imposed a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. China swiftly retaliated by imposing its own tariffs on US imports and putting several companies, including Google, on notice for possible sanctions.

Meanwhile, the US president’s proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been postponed for 30 days after the northern and southern US neighbours promised more co-operation on border security and the policing of drug trafficking.

Mr Trump says he “definitely” plans to impose tariffs on goods coming from the European Union and says the EU bloc’s approach to trade is an “atrocity”.

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So, what exactly is a tariff and why is Donald Trump so focused on imposing them?

And what does this all mean for Ireland’s main exports and our country’s foreign direct investment?

Today, on In the News, what will Donald Trump’s tariffs mean for Ireland?

Irish Times economics correspondent Eoin Burke Kennedy discusses the implications of the US president’s sudden swathe of tariffs.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak, produced by Aideen Finnegan.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast